EDMONTON - The Canadian delegation to World Youth Day will be wearing a red and white soccer jersey designed and produced in Edmonton.

Erwin Fung, a volunteer with the Office of Youth Evangelization, designed the jersey and then made it available to dioceses across Canada. About 3,000 young Catholics from across Canada are expected to attend the Aug. 16-21 event in Madrid, Spain.

Hundreds of excited young people in the Edmonton Archdiocese are getting ready for the journey of their lifetime.

Close to 500 young pilgrims from 30 different groups will be travelling to Madrid, Spain, in mid-August to take part in World Youth Day. Archbishop Richard Smith and a handful of priests will also take part in the youth event.

EDMONTON — They spent hours at St. Joseph's Basilica adoring the Lord and praying for life. More than 100 people passed through the cathedral May 12 between 6:30 and 10 p.m. to pray for protection for the unborn and other defenceless members of society.

"(Lord) provide us with the resources to assist those whose lives are endangered by abortion, euthanasia, infanticide or any other means of destruction of and abuse," the congregation prayed.

EDMONTON — The Grey Nuns, Sisters of Providence, Faithful Companions of Jesus and other religious orders of women have been working in Alberta for more than 150 years, since well before Alberta was a province.

Sisters were responsible for active ministry in hospitals, schools, churches and isolated communities. Over the years, the roles of consecrated women have changed.

EDMONTON — Sister Veronica O'Reilly reassures her fellow sisters that the loss, pain and fear being felt by many religious orders today will take them somewhere better in its own good time. In other words, that which does not kill them will make them stronger.

"We trust that God has a future for us," O'Reilly told religious women gathered at the Council of Consecrated Women's spring assembly.